History Book Club: Llana Barber On Immigration & Latino City

Krystel Feeney 22 May 2025

What can the past tell us about the present, particularly when it comes to the complex issue of immigration? Understanding the historical context of immigration offers an invaluable lens for making sense of today's headlines, moving beyond simplistic narratives and sensationalized imagery to uncover deeper truths.

The History Book Club recently presented Llana Barber, whose work delves into the intricate relationship between immigration, urban development, and social change. Her research, especially her book "Latino City: Immigration and Urban Crisis in the United States," provides critical insights into how historical patterns continue to shape our present reality. Facing adversity in the form of neighborly hostility, marginalization from local governance, lacking city services, and limited employment possibilities, Latinos have often demonstrated a remarkable resolve, organizing and advocating for their right to belong, to create homes within these communities.

Category	Details
Full Name	Llana Barber
Date of Birth	September 14, 1978
Age	46 years old (as of October 26, 2024)
Current Residence	Jackson Heights, NY
Current Position	Rudolph J. Vecoli Chair of Immigration History and Director of the Immigration History Research Center. Associate Professor, American Studies, SUNY Old Westbury.
Education	B.A., University of California, Berkeley Ph.D., Boston College
Areas of Expertise	Immigration history, Latino/a history, Caribbean diaspora, Urban history, and the impact of deindustrialization and suburbanization.
Key Publications	"Latino City: Immigration and Urban Crisis in the United States" (2017, University of North Carolina Press)
Awards and Recognition	2017 Kenneth Jackson Award for Best Book in North American Urban History from the Urban History Association
Research Focus	The impact of deindustrialization and suburbanization on Latino communities in the urban north, with a focus on the Caribbean diaspora.
Notable Projects	Examining the revitalization of cities like Lawrence, Massachusetts, by Dominican, Puerto Rican, and other Latino migrants.
Website	SUNY Old Westbury

Barber's work weaves together the historical threads of urban crises in U.S. cities with the narratives of imperial migration from Latin America. She provides an essential lens for understanding the global and national histories of immigration within the context of the United States. Her study of Lawrence, Massachusetts, a city once struggling with decline, is a prime example. Through detailed accounts of the Dominican, Puerto Rican, and other Latino migrants who revitalized Lawrence, Barber highlights the contrast between the revival that these migrants fueled and the systemic challenges they confronted. She underscores the crucial role that Latino migration has played in breathing new life into declining cities, reversing the impacts of deindustrialization and the exodus of white populations to the suburbs, which are often referred to as white flight.

Her analysis also delves into the underlying patterns of immigration, examining what current immigration trends share with our nations past. Barbers position as the Rudolph J. Vecoli Chair of Immigration History and the Director of the Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) at a New York university solidifies her prominent role in this field. She is recognized as a leading scholar in immigration and Latine history, with a specific focus on the Caribbean diaspora. Her book, "Latino City," which won the 2017 Kenneth Jackson Award for Best Book in North American Urban History, is an in-depth exploration of the effects of deindustrialization and suburbanization on urban communities, especially in the context of Latino migration. More information about Llana Barber can be found on her author page. Her academic research and publications have brought significant contributions to the fields of immigration history and urban studies.

Barber's work provides a crucial perspective on a subject that is often oversimplified. Her work gives us a clearer picture of how immigration and urban environments have shaped each other over time. Furthermore, it enables us to recognize the repeated patterns of hardship, resilience, and adaptation that have defined the migrant experience throughout the history of the United States. By illuminating these patterns, she provides essential knowledge for anyone who wants to grasp the complexities of immigration in our time, promoting a more informed and empathetic approach to this crucial issue.

A review of her book "Latino City" highlights the importance of her work: "Llana Barber offers a welcome addition to the growing literature on Latinos/as in the urban north. Drawing on vivid oral history interviews and rich data, she gives readers an intimate view of how Latinos/as in Lawrence encountered the urban crisis, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s." This shows the richness of her research, giving readers a personal look at how Latino communities struggled and overcame in the face of economic and social challenges. Her work also reflects the disjuncture between the urban revival and the difficulties that these communities continue to face.

The book underscores that correlation does not equal causality, bringing a nuanced perspective to the interactions between immigration and urban change. The award-winning book is recognized for its comprehensive approach to examining the urban landscape and the contributions of immigrant groups to cities.

The History Book Club's presentation of Llana Barber's work offers a valuable opportunity to explore these themes further and consider their relevance in today's world. The IHRC also continues to provide support for scholars in the field, with fellowship applications due March 31, 2025. It continues to be an essential source for anyone looking to understand immigration's effect on American society.

The work of Llana Barber is more than just academic research; it's a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of immigration. It highlights that migration is not just a modern phenomenon. Understanding the history of places like Lawrence, and the actions of the people there can assist us in navigating the complexities of the present.